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    Boat selection help

    I fish rivers for the most part but would like something a little larger. Last weekend I was in Missouri and the Gasconade rose 5 feet as we packed up. The 14' Jon was loaded heavy with gear and I didn't make the last turn! Got sideways and swamped it. No chance to retrieve boat or my 7.5 horse outboard. I really wanted to but the back of the boat was probably 4 feet under water. I thought it was too risky to go under that tree in that much current so a simply floated away leaving it. The good news is gear wise I save just about everything and no one was hurt so really just the boat and motor.

    I have owned ranger bass boats but I want to stay with aluminum and no bigger tha 15/16 feet. Probably welded as opposed to rivet but while I want bigger to hold more gear comfortably I still want a shallow running boat so I can still take it on the river. I would like to up the motor to 15/20 horse. Ideal would be a 15/48 tunnel and the run a jet drive but that is probably more than I want to spent. What. Are some good shallow boats that aren't too heavy in the 15 foot length. I have research the tracker grizley and lowes as well.

    #2
    Go wider than 48 if you can.

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      #3
      That's info I need. Width will add capacity and stability but also weight. Will the added width actually run shallower despite more weight?

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        #4
        Look for a 1648 or 1652 in allweld.

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          #5
          Xpress 1650

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            #6
            Width will help you tremendously in drafting shallower plus it will help you NOT SINK IT! The wider it is the less likely to dip a side under.

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              #7
              pm sent

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                #8
                16 52 with floatation to avoid what happened

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                  #9
                  Gator Trax boats

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                    #10
                    I had the 1650 and it was stable. We mainly ran throw lines?

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                      #11
                      Originally posted by txtrophy85 View Post
                      Gator Trax boats

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                        #12
                        Thanks for all the info, I have fished that river for 48 years and that is the first time I have swamped a boat. Its also the first time I tried to float down with it being up 5 feet. I have been resisting the need for a trailer which is why I like 14 foot jon boats but its also getting harder to load and unload all the gear which is why I think I want to sacrifice where I can go some and make things easier. Plus a larger trailered boat will let me fish the local lakes as well and get more out of a boat.

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                          #13
                          Take a look at the gator Trax boats

                          Lots of options in all sizes and you won't find a tougher aluminum boat

                          I got mine about 2 months ago and it's been a dream

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